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Measles debate flares up again

This content was published on Feb 17, 2009 The Conference of Cantonal Health Directors said on Monday that mandatory vaccination might have to be considered if current methods did not stop the disease spreading. More than 90 cases have been reported since the beginning of January. This is far from the peak of March 2008, when 572 cases were registered, but still a…

Bank fined for unauthorised investments

This content was published on Feb 16, 2009 An arbitration panel of the United States’ Financial Industry Regulatory Authority awarded STMicroelectronics damages of $406 million (SFr472 million) following the purchase of auction rate securities by Credit Suisse Securities. Geneva-based STMicroelectronics argued Credit Suisse carried out the unauthorised purchase of collateralised debt obligations and credit link notes instead of the federally guaranteed student loan…

How training could solve redundancy woes

This content was published on Feb 14, 2009 Education and training, they say, are key for riding out the current crisis and for being well placed when the economy starts to recover. Switzerland has been through a period of growth in recent years. Since 2001 its gross domestic product (GDP) has risen each year and 300,000 jobs have been created. But non-governmental organisation…

Leuthard opens Muba trade fair

This content was published on Feb 13, 2009 Guest country this year at the 93rd Basel-based event is the Philippines. The Muba fair, which runs until February 22, showcases products and services arranged according to the themes of lifestyle, health, sport, garden, multimedia and fashion. Around 1,000 exhibitors are presenting their wares to the public this year. Three-quarters come from Switzerland. “Exhibitors here…

Darwin poll

This content was published on Feb 13, 2009

Nescafé ranked best brand

This content was published on Feb 13, 2009 It is the second time running that the brand, produced by the world’s largest food group, Nestlé, has topped the Bilanz magazine table. Nescafé’s brand value increased as the product developed and expanded into emerging markets, according to the Swiss magazine’s results published on Friday. Nestlé itself came in third. Switzerland’s largest bank, UBS, remained…

ABB accelerates move to cheaper markets

This content was published on Feb 12, 2009 The firm said it must reduce costs and exploit higher demand for its services in countries including Mexico and Poland after profits and orders fell appreciably last year. ABB announced on Thursday that net profits tumbled by 17 per cent in 2008 to $3.1 billion (SFr3.6 billion). This included an 88 per cent fall in…

Light plane crash kills two

This content was published on Feb 12, 2009 A third person was seriously injured as the plane hit a snow bank and broke up. The aircraft had appeared to go into a spin as it came down. It had left Vienna just after three o’clock, and the accident occurred about seventy-five minutes later. Air safety experts have gone to the scene to investigate…

Straumann profit slumps but outlook is good

This content was published on Feb 12, 2009 The company, which has its headquarters in Basel, said the economic downturn had led to a revaluation of intangible assets and exceptional write-downs totalling SFr173 million. Sales for the year totalled SFr778.7 million. Gilbert Achermann, chief executive of the world’s second-largest producer in the sector, said the market for implant, restorative and regenerative dentistry was…

ABB reports profit fall in 2008

This content was published on Feb 12, 2009 ABB posted an 88 per cent fall in fourth-quarter net profit to $213 million but the result was better than analysts had been expecting. The Zurich group, which makes robots and power equipment for utilities, booked provisions of about $870 million in the fourth quarter. ABB took the step after investigations by United States and…

Internal: Archive

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